DECEMBER 17-23

South Korea and China’s recent claims to an extended portion of the continental shelf beyond their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) seem to overlap. In its official document submitted to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on December 14, China claimed that its natural prolongation of the continental shelf in the sea extends to the Okinawa Trough. Beijing’s recent demarcation reportedly extends north-eastward towards South Korea compared to its own 2009 preliminary document. Although South Korea is yet to submit its own document to the Commission, it has been revealed that Seoul too intends to extend its demarcation southeastward than its previous version. This could easily widen the overlapping part claimed by the two countries. 1

• 1. “S. Korea, China overlap claims on East China Sa shelf”, Korea Herald, December 23, 2012, at http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121223000041